Monroe County Executive Adam Bello highlights significant progress made through school bus safety program in its second year

Monroe County, New York – A school safety initiative aimed at protecting students during their daily commute is making a noticeable impact across Monroe County. In a recent announcement, County Executive Adam Bello shared updates on the School Bus Safety Program, revealing that more than 8,500 traffic citations were issued to motorists during the 2024–2025 school year for illegally passing stopped school buses.

The program, which began in October 2023, has now led to a total of 13,300 citations over two years — a figure Bello says underscores the serious risks posed by reckless drivers.

“In just two years, the Monroe County School Bus Safety program has issued over 13,000 citations to drivers who put our children at risk. That’s not just a number – it’s a wakeup call. Every violation is a potential tragedy and puts the lives of innocent students at risk. This program is holding drivers accountable, while helping protect our children as they travel to and from school every day,” said County Executive Adam J. Bello.

Stop-Arm Cameras Catch Violators in the Act

The safety program uses stop-arm cameras mounted on school buses to record vehicles that pass illegally when red lights are flashing and the stop-arm is extended. These violations are automatically flagged, and drivers are issued citations by mail.

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The technology is currently in place across five school districts: Hilton, Greece, East Irondequoit, Webster, and Monroe #1 BOCES. More districts — including Spencerport and Pittsford — are expected to come online soon.

The program does not cost taxpayers a dime. Instead, it’s entirely funded by the fines collected from violators. The initial fine for getting caught on camera is $250, and repeat offenders face increasing penalties if they violate the law again within 18 months.

Most Violations in Greece, But Progress Reported

Some districts are seeing higher violation numbers than others. The Greece Central School District reported the most citations — more than 5,200 in total. Still, district officials say things are improving.

“We’ve been with BusPatrol for over a year now and when we were first approached with this opportunity our immediate thought was the safety of our students, staff, and families,” said David Richardson, Executive Director for Student Operations at Greece Central School District. “It’s very alarming to see about 28 citations a day be generated through this program but it is showing a decrease from the 2023 – 2024 school year. Our bus drivers are seeing people stop more, so that tells me it’s working.”

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Here’s a breakdown of the number of citations issued by district during the past school year:

• Greece CSD: 5,222 citations
• East Irondequoit CSD: 1,492 citations
• Webster CSD: 1,389 citations
• Hilton CSD: 453 citations

All Suburban Districts Eligible

Under New York State law, drivers must stop for school buses that are picking up or dropping off children — regardless of the direction they’re approaching from or the type of road. Violating this rule not only endangers children but can now lead to an expensive fine and further penalties for repeat infractions.

All suburban districts in Monroe County are eligible to join the BusPatrol program, and momentum is building. In March, the City of Rochester and the Rochester City School District gave the green light to launch their own version of the program in partnership with BusPatrol, signaling a broader commitment to safer school travel.

More Awareness, Fewer Violations?

While the number of citations remains high, Bello and district leaders are hopeful the presence of cameras and the consequences for violations are changing behavior.

The trend in Greece — where officials say violations are slowly declining — offers some early proof that education and enforcement are having an effect.

The county encourages all residents to stay aware, slow down near school buses, and follow the law.

For more information about the Monroe County School Bus Safety Program and its partnership with BusPatrol, visit www.monroecounty.gov/school-bus-safety.